Breaking News: VINCI Secures Deal to Operate Budapest Airport
In a groundbreaking move, the Hungarian state and the French company VINCI have joined forces to acquire the operator of Budapest Airport in a monumental 4.3 billion euro transaction. The purchase, which saw the buyers shell out 3.1 billion euros for the airport itself and take on a net debt of 1.2 billion euros, marks a significant milestone in the aviation industry.
VINCI, a major player in the airport management sector, will now hold a 20% stake in the Budapest Airport operator and will take on the crucial role of overseeing its operations. This development comes as no surprise, given that VINCI already manages the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, located approximately 360 kilometers south of Ferenc Liszt International Airport.
With a focus on enhancing the overall customer experience and driving traffic growth through strategic investments, VINCI Airports has laid out an ambitious plan that includes achieving net zero emissions by the year 2030. The company, known for its successful operations in Portugal, the United Kingdom, France, and Serbia, is expanding its European network, which currently encompasses 26 airports catering to nearly 154 million passengers as of 2023.
It is worth noting that VINCI’s involvement in the Belgrade Airport concession tender in 2018 was subject to certain restrictions, barring entities holding a 20% or greater stake in any airport within a 450-kilometer radius of Belgrade. Despite this, VINCI secured a 25-year concession for the Belgrade Airport, with a recent extension granted to compensate for the challenges posed by the global pandemic, which significantly impacted air travel and revenue streams.
As VINCI takes the helm at Budapest Airport, travelers and industry insiders alike can expect to witness a new era of innovation and sustainability in airport management, setting the stage for a brighter future in air travel.